Unfortunately uninstall, reinstalling, repairing the Visual C++ runtimes did not work for me.
I have tried it with these:
Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 Redistributable
Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 Redistributable (x64)
Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 Redistributable - x64 9.0.30729.6161
Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 Redistributable - x86 9.0.30729.6161
Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 x64 Redistributable - 10.0.40219
Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 x86 Redistributable - 10.0.40219
Microsoft Visual C++ 2012 Redistributable (x64) - 11.0.61030
Microsoft Visual C++ 2012 Redistributable (x86) - 11.0.61030
Microsoft Visual C++ 2013 Redistributable (x64) - 12.0.40664
Microsoft Visual C++ 2013 Redistributable (x86) - 12.0.40664
Microsoft Visual C++ 2015-2022 Redistributable (x64) - 14.38.33130
Microsoft Visual C++ 2015-2022 Redistributable (x86) - 14.38.33130
I use the GOG offline installer of the game version 1.3.0 on Windows 7 x64. I have tried it on 3 different PCs, some with AMD graphic cards, some with an Intel onboard graphic chip.
On every PC the game starts very briefly (about 1-2 seconds) with a black scsreen and then crashes to the desktop without displaying an error message. However there is an error in the log file.
I also got Homeworld: Deserts of Kharak from the Epic Game Store when it was a giveaway, and I can start this one with version 1.4.0 on every PC. Unfortunately it is not DRM-free so I can only access the main menu but not start a new game. So one possible solution would be if GOG updates his version from 1.3.0 to 1.4.0.
DesertsOfKharak_Data\output_log.txt
[i]ApplicationException: Exception: Default: System.Exception: Exception loading '/Plugins/x86_64/bbicorenative.dll' (error code 126): System.ComponentModel.Win32Exception: The specified module was not found.
at BBI.Core.Utility.NativePlatform.LoadCoreNativeLibraries (System.String pluginFolder) [0x00000] in <filename unknown>:0
at BBI.Unity.Game.ShipbreakersMain.Awake () [0x00000] in <filename unknown>:0
UnityEngine.Debug:Internal_LogException(Exception, Object)
UnityEngine.Debug:LogException(Exception, Object)
BBI.Unity.Game.Utility.LoggingHelper:OnLogToUnity(Object, Severity, Channel, String)
BBI.Core.Utility.Log:LogMessage(Object, Severity, Channel, String, Object[])
BBI.Core.Utility.Log:Exception(Channel, Exception)
BBI.Unity.Game.ShipbreakersMain:Awake()[/i]